There are more women out of work than at any time since 1988, according to a report published by the Fawcett Society today. Since the last three months of 2010, women's unemployment has risen by 12%, putting it at a 25-year-high of just over 1 million, while men's unemployment fell 7% in the same period.

So what are we to make of the minister for women's eulogy this week in which Maria Miller welcomed the "historic high" figures showing that "two-thirds of all women are now employed".

It seems that when it comes to women's employment, the phrase "lies, damn lies and statistics" is more useful than ever.

Let's take the unemployment figures first. The chief reason for the record high is that women, who make up the majority of public sector workers, have borne the brunt of budget cuts. With 75% of these cuts still to come through, the Fawcett Society warned that, unless the government changes its policies, some 1.48 million women will be unemployed by 2018, a record high and a point at which at least women will achieve equality of sorts with men (there are currently some 1.53 milion men out of work).

The problem is that the government's jobs plan (described as "private-sector, low-wage and insecure" by Fawcett) has so far favoured men, with 60% of all the "new" jobs since 2010 going to them. Partly this is the type of job but also because the areas targeted by the government – science, technology, engineering and manufacturing – are dominated by men.

"The situation for women is bleak," says Ceri Goddard, chief executive of the Fawcett Society. "Female unemployment has started to rise and this will continue unless the government does more than tinker around the edges of this issue." The situation for lots of men too, long used to these low-wage jobs, doesn't look too rosy either, it must be said.

So why, then, is the women's minister heralding the high levels of women in work? Firstly, there are simply more women available to work in a rising population. At previous times of high unemployment, employment levels have also been high. It seems fair to say that both sets of figures, however, simply suggest that fewer women are choosing to stay at home to look after relatives. Later retirement ages as well as changes to disability benefits have also increased overall numbers.

More women than men are going on the dole with older women particularly hard hit as a result of coalition policies. Fawcett prepared the report because it also sees a trend towards lower pay that will increase the pay gap after decades when it was narrowing.

It is worthwhile considering Miller's lauding of entrepreneurial women. After a few words on the "barriers, including lack of female role models, the cost of childcare, lack of workplace flexibility, and a lack of transparency around recruitment for senior positions", it was clear that her target is the most senior women.

"I cannot emphasise enough how important I believe it to be that women are able and encouraged to reach the highest heights and I cannot emphasise enough how dedicated the government is to ensuring this happens."

More and more women may be joining the dole, goes the message, but as long as a few more are also joining the top of the ladder, all will be well.

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